Removal of acetylene from gases



Patented Apr. 12

UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE enonen mnnnnrcx nonsnnr, or Nonromon-rnrs, nnemmn, nss renon 'ro IMPERIAL cannon. nmnsrnms Lnn'rnn, or LONDON, nnanmn; n BRITISH oomrm movn. or acn'rrnnnn .rnon, eases No Drawing. Application ma lay a, 1930, Serial mi. 451.210, and meme Britain Kay 24, 1929.

This invention relates to a process for the removal of acetylene from gases containing it by means of a solvent'for acetylene. The absorption of acetylene in acetone is well I known and it has also been proposed to use acetonitrile as a washin agent for gases containing acetylene. Bot these solvents have the disadvantageof being easily vaporized so that the subsequent separation of acetylene from the solvent by distillation presents certain difliculties and it becomes necessary to undertake" further 0 erations to remove the entrained vapours o solvent from the final product. i 7 According to my invention I employ an ether or ester of high boiling point as an I absorbent for the removal of acetylene from gases containing it. Preferably I employ esters, ethers and mixed ester ethers of poly- 20 hydric alcohols as solvents.

It may be pointed out here that the ideal solvent for the purpose of recovering acetylene from gases would possess the following properties.

925 1. High solubility for acetylene with low solubility for other gases.

' 2. High boiling point and low vapour pressure at ordinary temperatures;

3. Low viscosity in order. to ensure tower.

4. Stability at the boiling point.

5. No chemical reaction with acetylene or 0 tirely similar nature are e ficlentto a snmlar degree, e. g. glycerol monoand (ii-acetates,

mono-, di-, and tri-alkyl ethers-of glycerol (e. g. glycerolmonog di-,andtri-ethylethers) and the esters of the mono-alkyl or di-alkyl efiiciso cut wetting of the packing in an absorption glycol monoand I ethers of glycerol (e. g. the esters of the diethyl ether of glycerol). Esters of high boilingpoint of other a1- cohols may also be employed, e. g. phthalates or ethyl lactate.

According to the invention gases containing acetylene are brought into contact in any. desired manner, and at a suitable temperature, preferably cooled, and with or without pressure, with one or more of these solvents. The acetylene is absorbed and may be recovered by heating and/or reducing the pressure on the solvent.

The results of experiments with solvents of the above type are given below. The gas was passed up a packed tower 4 ft. 6 ins. in height having a surface area of 6.9 sq. it. The solvent, which was glycerol triacetate in Example 1, 'glycol diacetate in Example 2 and the acetate of the mono-ethyl. ether of ethylene glycol in Example '3, was kept at 20 C. during the absorption and the gas was expelled by boiling.

Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Constituent Exit . tai

CH4.-- N; by diflerence Solvent rate 3' I declare that what I claim is 1. Process of recovery. of acetylene from gases containing same which includes the stepv of scrubbing said gases with an ester of a polyhydric alcohol. r

2. Process of; recovery of acetylene from gases containing the same, which includesv the step of scrubbing'said gases with a. henvolatile ether.

3. Process of recovery of acetylene from gases containing the same,' which includes the step of scrubbing said gases with an ether of a clyhydric alcohol.

4. recess of recovery of ecetylene'ifrom' gases containing the same, which includes the ste of scrubbing said ases with a mixed est er-ether of a polyhy i'ic alcohol.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name this 28th day oi: April, 1930.

GEORGE FREDERIQK HGRSLEY. 

